Not exactly. 123R's are OK; you just need to get the ones made in Sweden. The "R" version came out in the early 70's after Optimus bought the rights to the Svea name from AB Max Sievert. For many years the "R" version was produced in Sweden, and those are fine in terms of quality. The newer 123R's, produced in China, are the ones I've seen complaints on.

Now, whether or not the revision Optimus made in the early 70's was a good idea is the subject of some debate. Many people feel that the original 123's (pre "R") are the better stove. Some people will even remove the needle on an "R" version and claim that the stove runs better. I personally prefer the older version.

HJ